1Assistant Professor, Institute of Microbiology, Madurai Medical College, Madurai - 625020 #Director, Institute of Microbiology, Madurai Medical College, Madurai - 625020
Ind.J.Applied.Microbiol. 2019 .22(2) : 22-25
Trichosporon species, an opportunistic fungal pathogen which is a common inhabitant of soil can colonise the skin, mucosa of respiratory, gastrointestinal, genito urinary tract of human. It generally causes superficial infections like white piedra, onychomycosis in immune competent host [1]. But Nowadays Invasive & systemic infections caused by Trichosporon species are being reported among immuno compromised patients. Of the invasive infections, UTI caused by this emerging pathogen is being increasingly diagnosed among patients associated with medical devices (catheter) with a high rate of morbidity & mortality [2]. During the previous years, Trichosporon genus included a single species, T.beigelii. Recently, based on the morphological & biochemical characteristics, Trichosporon genus is taxonomically reclassified into a number of pathogenic species among which T.asahii, T.asteroides, T.mucoides, T.inkin, T.cutaneum, T.ovoides are medically important [3] .Early detection of this pathogen is a great challenge due to lack of specific symptoms & signs, its rarity and lack of awareness about the ability of Trichosporon in the causation of systemic infection. Existence of risk factors (prolonged use of antimicrobials, indwelling catheter, Peritoneal Dialysis) and comorbid conditions (Diabetes mellitus, anaemia, hypoalbumemia) may also contribute to Trichosporon infection.
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